Conditions of Membership

The following constitutes the terms and conditions of APDO membership. By becoming a member of APDO, you agree to be bound by these terms and conditions, and you also agree that a breach of these may result in cancellation of your membership. Further details of these conditions, and of the status and powers of APDO, can be found in the APDO Constitution.

1. Membership duration and fees

a. Your membership is valid for the stated term. It is the personal responsibility of the individual member to ensure that their membership is renewed at that time. APDO can accept no responsibility for a lapse in listing due to non-renewal. If you resign or your membership lapses, you agree to cease using the APDO logo on any promotional or other material. You also agree to remove all references to you being a member on your website, business cards and all other material under your control.
b. The APDO joining fee is payable on your initial membership application.
c. Should you wish to cancel your membership before your membership expiry date, no refund of membership fees will automatically be due. In exceptional circumstances, the Board may (entirely at its own discretion) make a refund.
d. You will use your current APDO membership to redeem all discounts and member offers available to you, and may use your listing to prove to your clients your membership of APDO. You may not claim membership of APDO or use APDO member discounts and benefits, after your membership has expired.
e. If your membership has lapsed, and you wish to re-join, you will be required to pay the current administration fee in addition to your renewal payment (as though joining as a new member).

2. Requirements of membership

Before working with paying clients you agree to comply with the following conditions:

a. to be over the age of 18 (and to provide proof by submission of appropriate documentation if so requested)
b. to have full and current public liability and professional indemnity insurance NB International Members must have the existing equivalent, if available in your country, to protect you and your clients in the event of claim
c. to register with the Information Commissioner’s Office for inclusion on the Public Register of Data Controllers under the Data Protection Act 1998, and to provide proof by submission of PDF of ICO certificateof registration NB International Members: must be compliant with any existing national guidelines concerning keeping documentation (including online records)
d. to be registered as a taxpayer with HMRC – either as self-employed or as a new business (if you wish to operate as a limited company) and to provide proof of this by submission of a scan/screenshot of your HMRC account showing your details and your UTR NB International Members: must be registered with the relevant national body for tax liability
e. to have a website (or as a minimum, a holding page) which displays the current APDO logo either on the Home Page or the footer, with a reciprocal link to the Association’s website at www.apdo.co.uk and to provide proof by adding your website address to the Reciprocal Link field on your Edit Your Profile page.
f. to not use “APDO”, “APDO Association of Professional Declutterers & Organisers”, “Association of Professional Declutterers & Organisers “ or any other variation, in your company name, as part of your trade mark or within any of your social media handles.

If you are not yet ready to comply with these conditions, you may remain a provisional member for a maximum of 12 months. After this point your membership will lapse and you will be required to be fully compliant with the above conditions before re-joining (with an additional admin fee incurred).

PLEASE NOTE if you engage in any paid or unpaid decluttering or organising work, even as a provisional member, APDO requires you to hold valid professional indemnity and public liability insurance.

You agree to review carefully your own personal need for the following, and to implement as you conclude necessary:

a. registration as a Waste Carrier, Broker & Dealer with the Environment Agency if you are likely to be removing any items from your client’s premises (whether for disposal, donation or sale). According to the Environment Agency and relevant legislation, these provisions will apply to almost any items you could be involved in removing from your client’s premises, even though they may not be obviously or traditionally categorised as typical ‘waste’. Please ensure you check the relevant provisions carefully.
b. a DBS check (previously CRB) if you are likely to work with clients in a vulnerable category

3. Business conduct

You agree:

a. to be bound by the APDO Code of Ethics
b. to operate your business in a professional, moral and ethical manner and not bring APDO into disrepute in any way.
c. to operate your business in accordance with all relevant national and local government bodies as are applicable to your business and your dealings with APDO.
d. that APDO and/or its office bearers and representatives bear no legal responsibility whatsoever in relation to any of your business dealings.
e. to be bound by any decision made by the APDO Board in relation to any circumstances relating to the above, and acknowledge that the Board has the right to terminate your Membership of the Association for failure to abide by such decision. Any decision to terminate your Membership is final.